Automatic handling means for use upon and in conjunction with printing and labeling machines



Nov. 28, 1944. SHURLEY 2,363,698

AUTOMATIC HANDLING MEANS FOR USE UPON AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH PRINTINGAND LABELING MACHINES Filed Dec. 17, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l T i'y] "I EIN ENTOR.

F. SHURLEY I Nov. 28, 1944.

WITH PRINTING AND LABELING MACHINES Filed Dec. 17, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet2.

qll

AUTOMATIC HANDLING MEANS FOR USE UPON AND IN CONJUNCTION IN VENTOR.

Nov. 28, 1944. F. SHURLEY 2,363,698

AUTOMATIC HANDLING MEANS FOR USE UPON AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH PRINTINGAND LABELING MACHINES 17, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec.

INVENTOR.

'I'ION F. SHURLEY Nov. 28, 1944.

FOR USE UPON AND IN GONJUNC WITH PRINTING AND LABELING MACHINESAUTOMATIC HANDLING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 17, 1942.

aseafa I \m:

A With the aid Patented Nov. 28, 1944 I A UNITED STATES, PATENT" OFFICEA I AUTOMATIC HANDLING MEANS FoR UsE UPONAAND IN CONJUNCTION WITH PRINT-I ING AND LABELING IMAOHINES A I 7 Frederick Shurley, Windsor, Ontario,Canada 3 This invention relates to improvements in automatic handlingmeans for use upon and in conjunction with printing or labelingmachines.

It is an object of the invention to provide an automatic handlingmeansfor feeding cylindrical containers (such as ampoules, tubes, phials,bottles and the like) onto arbors projecting laterally from anintermittently moved conveyor; for

f Figure 4 is a partial planyiew on the line A supporting the undersideof each containerstill upon its arbor for rotation beneath a printingAnother objectof the invention is to provide A such an automatichandling means including an I intermittently moved conveyor having aplurality of uniformly spaced .arbors projecting later- I ally from oneside thereof; a transversely apertured magazine for the containers, andmeans for ejecting a container from the magazine, onto an arbor one ofwhich is positioned in alignment with the magazine aperture eachtime theconveyor stops, and to synchronize this arbor loading movement with theother functions performed by the handling means and the printing orlabeling machine of which it forms a' part.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an automatic handlingmeans including freely rotatable arbors to permit ready rotation of thecontainers, and axially parallel rollers to support the oute extremityof each container for. rotation about the axis of its supporting arborwhen the conveyor has stopped with that I arbor in printing position.Moreover since in many instances it is desirable, on account of theprinting upon the containers, to make only a narrow contact between theollers and each container, I usually make the rollers tapered. I A Afurther object of the invention is to .provide such an automatichandling means wherein the: arbors, in one preferred form, each includea stripper rod for removing the containers after the printing orlabelingmachine has printed or labeled them; and a plow for actuating thestripper rods as the arbors travel away from printingor labelingposition. A

Having thus briefly andbroadly stated some of the objects and advantagesof the machine I will now proceed to describe it more fully of theaccompanying drawings, in which: I I

i I Figure 1 illustrates a sectional view of a print- ApplicationDecember 17, 1942, Serial No. 469,356 6 Claims. (c1.1o 1--ss) ingmachine equipped with the invention, and

taken on the lin of Figure 2. I

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figurel.

Figure '3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig- 4- 4 of Figure 1. I IFigure 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a portion of themagazine and the: ejector means for loading containers therein onto oneof the arbors. I 1

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail showing a portion of the conveyor chainwith one type of arbor I thereon supporting a. container and the outerextremity of the latter supported by the rollers.

the chain and arbor.

Figure 7 is an end view of Figure 6 showing Figure 8 is an end view ofthe arbor alone, and A Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure8.II I I A Figure 10 is a detailshowing the Geneva movement and the switchoperated thereby, and

Figure 11 is a side view thereof. Figure .12 is a section on the linelit-l2 of Figurei13, and I I I Figure 13-is an end view of a preferred,modified form of construction of one arbor.

Figure 14 is an enlarged perspective view showing a portion of theconveyor chain supported I I at printing position, an arbor thereoncarrying I a container and the latter'also supported by the rollers.

I will first describe one preferred form of printing machine with whichmy automatic han dlingmeans may be associated, I designates a frame onwhich a transverse drive shaft 2 operated by an electric motor 3 througha gear box 4 is suitably supported in bearings 2a. Mounted alsotransversely of the frame in bearings 5 is a printing cylinder 6 havinga sprocket wheel lsecured thereto which constantly driven by a chain 8which also passes around a sprocket wheel 3 fixed on the drive shaft 2.An arcuate printing plate-Ill secured upon the cylinder 6 in anypreferredmanner is inked by a conventional inking set indicated at Hwhich includes a gear l2 upon one inking roller which meshes with a gearl3 upon the said printing cylinder.

Around the sprocket wheel l and also around a second sprocket wheel l9fixed on the drive shaft 2 a drive chain 8 extends. Pins 2|] projectinglaterally at spaced intervals from the chain l8 engage projecting lands2| on the disc l1 and cause partial rotation of the shaft l4. Pivoted onthe frame I is a lever 22 having a projection 23 to engage one of aplurality of radial apertures 24 formed in the disc l6 whereupon theshaft I4 is held against rotation. Spaced lugs 25 on the opposite sideof the chain |8 from .the pins 20 contact the lever 22 and move itpivchain 34. The closed end of the magazine downwardly toward which itsunderside slopes is disposed toward the center of the machine, and thewidth of the magazine is such as to freely receive the cylindricalworkpieces longitudinally so that their axes extend at right angles tothe path of travel of the conveyor chain 34.

In order to feed the workpieces to the closed end of the magazine 42 acarrier- 43 is provided. This carrier in the present instance includes asplit bearing 44 mounted on the frame I beyond the open outer end of themagazine. The bearing supports a shaft 45 having spaced sprockets H thedisc I6 is so positioned that one of its apertures 24 is in position tobe engaged by the lever projection 23. Whereupon a spring urged arm 26of an electric switch 21 forces the lever 22 forward so that itsprojection23 moves into- Consequently engagement with that aperture. not1 only is the head shaft |4 intermittently rotated but the switch 21which is of a known double-acting type .is intermittently moved by itsarm 26 that a live lead 28 is alternately con-- ,nected to awire 29 or3|].

' Extending across theopposite extremity of the frame I is a tail shaft3|.suitably supported in bearings 3|a, and mounted on the shafts l4 and3| are sprockets 32 and33 respectively around both of which a conveyorchain 34 extends; The

upper portion of the chain 34 is preferably raised intermediately of itslength by idler sprockets 35 rotatably supported by verticallyadjustable brackets 36 mounted on a plate 31 supported from the'frame.and, in vertical alignment with the axis of the printing cylinder 6beneath the latter a central idler sprocket-35a is supported by avertically adjustable bracket=36a also mounted on the plate 31.

Supported also by theframe is a plate 38 having a verticallyadjustableubracket 39 thereon which is also mounted substantially invertical alignment with the cylinder 6 and has two axially paralleltapered rollers 40 projecting therefrom toward the chain 34. Extendingfrom the latter at uniformly'spaced intervals toward the rollers 46 arearbors 4| upon each of whicha cylindrical workpiece A is placed in amanner here inafter described. The rollers 40 are positioned to receiveand support the outer extremity of the periphery of each cylindricalworkpiece or container A when the latter is in printing position beneaththe cylinder 6 at which time the adjacent portion of the chain 34 fromwhich the arbor 4| projects that carries that workpiece or container issupported by the central idler sprocket 35a so that the workpiece ispositively held in correct printing position during its contact with theprinting plate Ill. The purpose of making the rollers 40 tapered is sothat they provide a narrow line contact for. supporting the periphery ofthe workpiece at its outer extremity only and thus cannot smear anyfresh printing thereon. The adjustability of the brackets 36, 36a and 38is to permit vertical movement of the idler sprockets 35 and 35a and ofthe rollers 4!] as their height must be varied to suit the diameter ofthe containers or workpieces. 3 Supported upon the frame l towards itsextremity across which the tail shaft 3| extends is a rnagazine 42havingits sides parallel with the 46 thereon, and supported transverselyof the magazine by opposite sides thereof through which it extends 'is asecond shaft 41 having sprocket wheels 48 thereon within the magazineand another sprocket wheel 49 thereon outwardly of the latter. 'Mountedon the tail shaft 3| is a sprocket wheel 50 around which and thesprocket wheel 49 a drive chain 50a passes which turns the shaft 41, andaround each pair of sprocket wheels. and 48 another chain 5| extends.These chains 5| feed theworkpieces toward the closed; ex-

tremity of th magazine and thus bring them one at a timeopposite alignedapertures 52 formed through the magazine sides. A j

The intermittent movement-of the chain 34 is so arranged that each timeit stops oneof the arbors 4| is in alignment with the apertures 52.

Axially movable through the latter and projecti ing from the magazine onits side remote from the chain 34 through a bearing53 is an ejector rod54. Pivoted intermediately of its length upon the frame I is a lever 55one extremity of which is connected to the ejector rod 54 while itsopposite extremityis connected to a plunger rod 56 extending from aconventional double-acting solenoid 51. The wires 29 and 30. areconnected to opposite ends of the solenoid 5'! and a third'wire 58 fromthe latter is connected to a source of power 59'to which the leadalsoextends. Thus as the switch 2 1 is intermittently operated oppositeends of the solenoid 51 are energized so that the plunger rod isalternately moved back and forth.

Eachtime the conveyor stops the switch 21 is operated-and the ejectorrod, through the solenoid 51, is moved toward the chain 34 and toward anarbor 40 thereon which is then in alignment with the apertures 52. Theejector rod then pushes one of the cylindrical workpieces laterallythrough the aperture 52 adjacent the chain 34 and onto one of thearbors. Immediately upon resumption of movement of the chain 34 theswitch 21 is again operated so that the ejector rod is then moved in theopposite direction where'- upon another workpiece moves into positionfor ejection. -It is of course also understood that upon subsequentstoppage of the conveyor chain 34 each 'arbor 40 in turn is halted inprinting position. i

Figures 12 and 13 show the preferred construction of the arbor 4| whichis also illustrated in Figure 2. In this instance the arbor consists ofa sleeve 60 the bore of which is of reduced diam;

eter at one extremity and at its opposite endit is in threadedengagement with the inner'race of a ball bearing 6| the outer race ofwhich is pressed into or otherwise suitably secured to a supportingplate 62 which is-s e cured to the chain 34. Axially movable through thesleeve'fifl is a rod 63 which normally projectsthroughand -be-' yond theinner race of the bearing BI and also" through the end of the sleeve 60of reduced diamhead shaft 14, so that as the conveyortravels theplowgradually moves the rod 63 to the left-- Figure 12-and exertspressure against the closed extremity of the cylindrical workpiece andremoves it from the arbor.

2. In a machine of the character described com prising an intermittentlymoved endless conveyor chain on a machine including a movable printingplate beneath which the chain extends, spaced arbors projectingfrom oneside of the chain for receiving cylindrical work pieces, the work piecesupon the. arbors being successively posi- If the cylindricalworkpiecesor containers are open at both ends the stripper arrangementabove described would not be operative and in such case the arbor may bemade as shown in the modification illustrated in Figures 6 to 9,,whereina screw 66' projects through the inner 'race of,

the ball bearing 6| the outer race of which is again supported by aplate 62, and this screw is in threaded engagement with a sleeve 61.Mounted in the latter and projecting longitudinally adjacent the sleeveperiphery is a spring 68 which tioned beneath the printing plate forcontact therewithupon stoppage of the chain, and vertically adjustablemeans for cooperating with the arbors for supporting the work piecesthereon in position for rotation against the printing plate as thelatter moves in contact with the work pieces.

3. In a machine of the character described including an operatingstation, an intermittently moved conveyor extending beneath theoperating station, spaced arbors projecting from one side of theconveyor for receiving cylindrical work pieces, the work pieces upon thearbors being suecessively moved into position beneath the operatingstation upon subsequent stoppage of the frictionally engages the bore ofa cylindrical workpiece to insure the latter remainingupo'n the sleeveduring movement of the conveyor chain 34. i

While in the foregoing the preferred embodiments of the invention havebeen described and shown, it is understood that further alterations andmodifications maybe made theretoprovided the said alterations andmodifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: v

1. In a machine of .the character described comprising an intermittentlymoved conveyor conveyor, and bearing means positioned beneath theworkstation for supporting onlythe periphery of each work piece when inplace between the bearing means and the operating station.

4. In a machine of the character describedineluding an. operatingstation, an intermittently moved conveyor extending beneath theoperating station, spaced arbors projectingfrom one side of theconveyor, and axially parallel tapered rollers positioned beneath theoperating station for engagingand supporting only the outer extremity ofthe periphery of each workpiece when in position under the operatingstation.

5. In a machine of the character described,

. an intermittentlymoved conveyor chain having chainon a machineincluding a movable printing plate beneath which the chain extends,spaced arbors projecting from one sideof the chain for receivingcylindrical work pieces, the Work pieces upon the arbors beingsuccessively positioned beneath the printing place for contact therewithupon stoppage of thechain, means under the printing plate cooperatingwith each arbor for having line contact with the work piece thereon andsupporting the same for rotation against the plate as the latter movesin contact with the workpiece, and vertically adustable supporting meansfor that portion of the chain from. which one of the arbors projectswhen the work piece thereon is in plate contacting position.

upper and lower flights, spaced arbors projecting from one side of thechain adapted to receive cylindrical work pieces for rotation thereon,means supporting the upper flight of the chain,

and means on the machine for supporting only the periphery of a workpiece. v

6. In a machine of the character described, a I frame, an endlessconveyor chain, mountings carried by said ehain, mandrels rotatablycarried by said, mountings and projecting laterally from a side of thechain, and tapered rollers rotatably mounted in side byside relation toeach other and extending toward the conveyor chain for engaging under anarticle upon a mandrel for line contact with the outer end thereof torotatably support the article while over the rollers without touchingthe article for the remainder of the length. l i i i l FREDERICKSHURLEY.

